hey all, such a cool community here!

I'm newly into road-biking, have done the American River bike trail just a couple times, and I'm having a lot of fun. I'm interested in a laid-back ride with some people; I saw that there was a Davis one a week ago, sounded super cool (couldn't go, had to leave out of town).

Anyway, I don't have the confidence with my limited experience to go through some of the published trails by myself nor organize an entire ride with all your experienced riders... so this is just a humble call-out to riders in the area to see if there's anything in the works starting from Sacramento-proper (or I can try to ride out to Davis and meet people). I'm not sure how all the laid-back rides work... my longest ride so far was about 55 miles round trip (and I was tired) and I think it was only 400ft or so of climbing (ARBT toward Folsom Lake). I'd be interested in doing some climbing, but have no idea how much I can handle (the 400ft was manageable but not easy :) ).

Any ideas or takers for a ride (maybe something different than ARBT)? Maybe one of these upcoming Saturdays?

Cheers to all!
-Nico

I'm interested if you want to organize one! I'm planning an ARBT ride middle of next month (20th I think, look for the post about it). Matter of fact, I'm heading out on an ARBT ride in a few minutes. Interested? Contact me ASAP! (PM is fine).

I'm interested if you want to organize one! I'm planning an ARBT ride middle of next month (20th I think, look for the post about it). Matter of fact, I'm heading out on an ARBT ride in a few minutes. Interested? Contact me ASAP! (PM is fine).

Thanks for the invitation Joel, saw this too late :rolleyes: . I did see the post for the ARBT ride for Sep20, and I'm totally thinking about it (leaning yes).

I would totally be into helping organize another scenic laid-back ride. Maybe somewhere between Sacramento and Davis? Or something through wine-country? I hoping for suggestions since I'm not familiar with all the different paths (or my limits with climbing yet :o )

Cheers!
-Nico

I'm in the process of planning a Sacto tandem wheelsucker ride for the weekend of the 24th. Stay tuned.

8/24 or 9/24?

8/24

eek, i lack the tandem

eek, i lack the tandem

No worries; you can suck a tandem wheel instead.

A tandem train is a wonderful thing. :D

What about this weekend? Saturday 8/9? I got NOTHIN' on the ride calendar and my current options bore me to tears.

What about this weekend? Saturday 8/9? I got NOTHIN' on the ride calendar and my current options bore me to tears.

I'm open this weekend too. Though one day I promised my son we'd ride down to Old Sac, have lunch, then ride home. That'll be something like 37 miles. Good ride for an almost 7yo. I think we'll do that Saturday, and Sunday is wide open.

Sunday is wide open.
Ok. I'm good until about 3pm on Sunday myself... Anyone up for a creative (EDIT) EARLY BEFORE HADES HEAT (EDIT) Sactown ride on Sunday... Say a "Taste of Sacramento" ride THIS SUNDAY AUGUST 10th!?!?
Options...

Delta Jamboree? Explore the River South of Freeport?

Causeway Classic? Sac to Davis and back via the causeway?

Hills? Something that goes from pancake to flapjack and back?

We have something for everyone here... Endless possibilities.

Takers? Oh! (How could I forget?) Suggestions???

Ok. I'm good until about 3pm on Sunday myself... Anyone up for a creative (EDIT) EARLY BEFORE HADES HEAT (EDIT) Sactown ride on Sunday... Say a "Taste of Sacramento" ride THIS SUNDAY AUGUST 10th!?!?
Options...

Delta Jamboree? Explore the River South of Freeport?

Causeway Classic? Sac to Davis and back via the causeway?

Hills? Something that goes from pancake to flapjack and back?

We have something for everyone here... Endless possibilities.

Takers? Oh! (How could I forget?) Suggestions???

Pick something for a fairly new rider, no more than about 50 miles, no dramatic climbs (open to 1500 to 2000 feet total ascent), and places to refill water bottles. Tell me where to meet and what time. I'll be there!

How about a ride from Sac to Walnut Grove and back? The Pizza Factory there has some decent pizza, and the Big Store has some awesome fried chicken.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Delta%20Century/twinkiestop.jpg

Sunday should be good for me too.
Does anybody have a route from the ARBT to the foothills and back? Could be the best of both worlds...flat and some rollers.
I would be willing to drive from Davis to a start if need be and can carry my bike and another on my roof racks if anyone wants to join. I would offer suggestions but anything past the bike trail is new to me. Hopefully an idea will pop up that we can agree on.
Will check back tomorrow and see what's happening.

Eric

There's this loop: http://www.cyclefolsom.com/webform/ridePreview.aspx?rideId=folsomlake&title=FOLSOM+LAKE

I'm down for that loop, Joel. Can we do a 9 am start? I only ask because the last laid back ride really started around 830 anyway ;). High for Sunday is only 91 anyway so it's not going to be that bad heat-wise if we start a little later.

If we get a few more and make it a group ride, should be a lot of fun.

There's this loop: http://www.cyclefolsom.com/webform/ridePreview.aspx?rideId=folsomlake&title=FOLSOM+LAKE


That sounds great :thumb: But where exactly does it start? Folsom and Leidsdorff?

Interested!

I might be able to make it this Sunday, just gotta ck with the events coordinator. Will this be a true laid back ride? She might want to ride as well.

Just saw the route description. I guess if it gets too hot or too much climbing, we can always turn around.

That's a great route. Be aware that the climbing is more than you think here. I'd like to come but the kiddie has a triathalon in Woodland that day. One thing I would change on the route is after the decent from Cool, turn right on Old Foresthill road (instead of going left on 49) and climb out of the canyon that way. Less cars and not as steep. You'll end up on Foresthill road.. turn left and head into Auburn from there. Enjoy crossing the highest bridge in the state. This route change would add a few miles but it's much more enjoyable, IMO.

... I only ask because the last laid back ride really started around 830 anyway ;).

Hey, Matt, I'll take the fall for that one, so apologies once again to all the folks (which was about 80% of the folks on the ride :p) who had to wait for that moron in the blue van that showed up more than half an hour late after he set the time for 7:30...:innocent:

Hey, Matt, I'll take the fall for that one, so apologies once again to all the folks (which was about 80% of the folks on the ride :p) who had to wait for that moron in the blue van that showed up more than half an hour late after he set the time for 7:30...:innocent:

:roflmao: It was no big. The ride was fantastic and I think everyone had a great time. I know I did :D.

That's a great route. Be aware that the climbing is more than you think here. I'd like to come but the kiddie has a triathalon in Woodland that day. One thing I would change on the route is after the decent from Cool, turn right on Old Foresthill road (instead of going left on 49) and climb out of the canyon that way. Less cars and not as steep. You'll end up on Foresthill road.. turn left and head into Auburn from there. Enjoy crossing the highest bridge in the state. This route change would add a few miles but it's much more enjoyable, IMO.

I agree with this. Once you're down there, the only way out is up, and the ride up 49 from the confluence isn't going to be much fun. The road is super narrow and there's a lot of traffic, plus it's one big hill for a few miles. Going right will break up the climb a bit, then give us a little down hill on foresthill road, we get to cross the big bridge and then climb a nasty 1 miler. From there, hang a left at the stop light in Auburn (on to Lincoln Way) and we're headed straight to 49 and can pick up the route again.

I guess we have a sunday plan.

Start is the parking lot across the street from Karen's bakery. It's at Leidesdorff Street and Gold Lake Drive. 8:30

Matt, do you want to put together some cue sheets? Sounds like you might be more familar with this area than I am.

If no one is in any kind of hurry on Sunday, we can do it as a true laid back ride. A bunch of regroups, etc. Bring snacks though.

I was going to roll with the Hwy 49 plan but since others have chimed-in, I'm all for the Foresthill option instead :thumb:

I'll be wearing the 2008 STP jersey and going by my birth username of Chris. This will be my first BF ride in the year+ I've been on here. Woo Hoo! Looking forward to it.

Matt, do you want to put together some cue sheets? Sounds like you might be more familar with this area than I am.

I'll see if I can figure out the cue sheet thing. I'm mainly familiar with that area at the confluence because that's where I do all my mountain biking ;). I'm at work so I have a bunch of free time to do this (seriously), let me figure it out :D :D

I'll see if I can figure out the cue sheet thing. I'm mainly familiar with that area at the confluence because that's where I do all my mountain biking ;). I'm at work so I have a bunch of free time to do this (seriously), let me figure it out :D :D

I'll be glad to figure it out! You might look at mapmyride.com.

I'm at work so I have a bunch of free time to do this (seriously), let me figure it out :D :D

You had me at (seriously)
:roflmao2:

I found the loop on mapmyride but no cue sheet. Let me see if I can find the loop on bikely and edit it to match our needs

How's this?

Bikely with Cue Sheet (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/182295)

We'd like to come but will be in Esparto time trialling. Looking forward to a ride report and pics.

That looks great! Well done, thanks.

^Looks good. Just to let you all know... the elevation drop at mile 32 is where you cross the Foresthill bridge. For some reason, most mapping sites do not recognize bridge crossings so you will see the elevation of the ground, not the road. Subrtract ~700 ft from the total climb. Still a fair amount of climbing at the end of the day. Have fun bombing down 49 to the confluence. It's a blast.

I was thinking about tacking-on another 70 miles by riding to/from ride, but I think this 50+ will be plenty. Thanks for the cue sheets Matt.

So... Roll Call?

Redspoke (me, Chris)
JoelS
NachoMatt

I was thinking about tacking-on another 70 miles by riding to/from ride, but I think this 50+ will be plenty. Thanks for the cue sheets Matt.

So... Roll Call?

Redspoke (me, Chris)
JoelS
NachoMatt

I'm toying with the idea of riding to the start from my house, and that would add about 50-60. I signed up for the Napa century, so maybe I should see if I can even do a century before I head out there :)

I don't think I need to tack on any extra miles yet...

Hey guys, I'm from Las Vegas but I'm driving up to Sac tomorrow with my bike. Do you guys mind if a complete stranger tags along? I'm not familiar with riding in Sac and this looks like a perfect intro. I have a friend who rides too I'll see if I can get her to come.

So if everything goes as planned this weekend I should be able to make it.

-Craig

Are you Las Vegans? I always wondered what you call yourselves... :D

The more the merrier :thumb:

Hey guys, I'm from Las Vegas but I'm driving up to Sac tomorrow with my bike. Do you guys mind if a complete stranger tags along? I'm not familiar with riding in Sac and this looks like a perfect intro. I have a friend who rides too I'll see if I can get her to come.

So if everything goes as planned this weekend I should be able to make it.

-Craig

Please join us!

Thanks for coming together on this, all. I'm looking forward to doing this ride :D

This looks like a plan, so I plan to be there. Any water available on this route or will two bottles have to make it?

There's actually a bunch of water. After you turn left on Hwy 49 you go through Cool (it's a few miles up) and there's a small market and a fire station there. When you turn left on to High St in Auburn you're on a pretty busy corner with three gas stations, a McD's, a fantastic Tacqueria (called El Portal Tacqueria - we could do lunch but we'd want locks). On Auburn Folsom road, we'll pass through Granite Bay and there's some markets and gas stations there too @ Douglas. Lots of places to refill :)

Good news indeed on the water.

It might be fun to have lunch when we get back to Folsom. We ought to be back by 12:30 or earlier.

If we have lunch in Folsom, I vote for Coffee Republic in the shopping center on the corner of Auburn Folsom and Greenback :)

I'm open. So long as they have stuff to eat for lunch! Coffee house fare (such as what Starbucks has) doesn't usually cut it. Haven't been to Coffee Republic though, so I have no idea what they have.

wow, so awesome... (freaking bikeforums email notifications for thread updates fire inconsistently)!

So, with all the posts above, a few routes were discussed and I'm not sure which everyone is talking about (and where to start, etc...). :)

And this will be totally laid back? Even for a climbing-newbie/rookie?

Cheers!
-Nico

Nico, we'll make sure you get through. I'm not so fast climbing either.

We're starting at the parking lot across the street from Karen's Bakery in Folsom at 8:30. Same little center where Bicycles Plus is located. Bring snacks or money to buy on the way. You don't want to bonk because you didn't eat.

Ok, I'm going to try to make this (hectic schedule day before)... and I may not have a car that day to arrive at starting point. This sounds super cool though!

I'll see what I can do... sounds like a lot of fun!
-Nico